Medical School Matters: The Most Powerful Prescription Is a Well-Trained Physician
All qualified health care professionals play an important role in the delivery of health care in our state. Efficient delivery of health care requires a team-based approach with members of the health care team each playing their role. Roles are defined by one’s education and training.
There is a fundamental difference in the education and training of physicians and nurses.
Education:
Physicians have 4 years of medical school followed by 3-7 years of residency in a hospital. Nurse practitioners generally attend 2-3 years of nurse practitioner school, and an additional residency is not required. However, over 2,000 licensed nurse practitioners in NC received NP training from 100% online programs.
Training:
Physicians undergo 10,000-16,000 hours of hands-on, in person clinical training, compared to 500-720 required hours for nurse practitioners. Through this training, physicians learn how to properly address a wide range of complex health care issues.
Education and Training Are Important:
Education and training are vital when it comes to patient safety for all North Carolinians. The duration and focus of training differs significantly between physicians and nurse practitioners. With medical education and training, physicians diagnose, treat and help prevent diseases and injuries. Physicians are trained to provide complex diagnoses, develop comprehensive treatment plans, and order and interpret tests within the context of a patient’s overall health condition. Nurse practitioners’ education and training generally focuses on managing patient health and illness status—not diagnosis or treatment.
The NC Patient Safety Coalition is an alliance of medical professionals that advocate for physician-led health care that protects patient safety. Learn more on our website at www.ncpatientsafety.com, and follow us on X @NCPatientSafety and Facebook www.facebook.com/NCPatientSafety.